MANILA, Philippines -- The Philippine Coast Guard inspected on Wednesday a 65-year-old battle tank, which a private contractor of the Pasig River rehabilitation project accidentally dug up off Manila's South Harbor over the weekend.

…The Filipino, it seems, has lost his soul, his dignity, and his courage. We have come upon a phase of our history when ideals are only a veneer for greed and power, (in public and private affairs) when devotion to duty and dedication to a public trust are to be weighted at all times against private advantages and personal gain, and when loyalties can be traded. …Our government is in the iron grip of venality, its treasury is barren, its resources are wasted, its civil service is slothful and indifferent, its armed forces demoralized and its councils sterile., We are in crisis...

President Ferdinand Edralin Marcos

"Taking into account the disadvantages they have to fight against in terms of arms, equipment and military discipline, without artillery, short of ammunition, powder inferior, shells reloaded until they are defective, they are the bravest men I have ever seen...

US Sherman tank dredged from Manila Bay more than 60 years after World War IIAssociated Press09/23/09 5:50 AM EDT

MANILA, PHILIPPINES — The Philippine coast guard says the wreckage of a U.S. tank has been dredged from Manila Bay's muddy seafloor more than 60 years after the end of World War II.

Spokesman Lt. Cmdr. Armand Balilo said Wednesday the M4A1 Sherman tank was accidentally discovered Saturday stuck in mud 15 to 20 feet (4.5 to 6 meters) underwater by a dredging company near the mouth of Pasig River.

Balilo says there appears to be no human remains inside the tank. It was discovered without its turret and tracks.

He says a Japanese 105 mm cannon was recovered nearby in July.

Manila was the scene of heavy fighting between U.S. and Japanese forces during the liberation of the Philippines in 1945, and war-era arms and ammunition have been found in the city.

A vessel dredging the mouth of the Pasig River as part of the river rehabilitation program accidentally struck and recovered last Saturday a submerged World War II vintage battle tank that had sunk in Manila Bay.

The tank, covered by mud and silt, was later transferred to the Kwan Sing’s direct barge D/B Naghahari.

Kwan Sing construction manager Alex Andres said that their crane, which has the capacity to haul 40-tons, pulled out the solid steel tank estimated to weigh 10 tons.

“We did not expect to find a tank in the operation. We would turn it over to the PCG because of its historical value to the country,” said Andres.

The PCG sought the guidance of the National Museum on what to do with the remnants of the tank.

Balilo said that this was the first time that a battle tank was fished out from Manila Bay.

Balilo also disclosed that the dredging firm also recovered last July 25 a war vintage 105 Howitzer cannon that belonged to the Japanese Navy, also off the Baseco area.

When asked about the possibility of a vintage bomb lying in the waters of Manila Bay, Balilo said: “There are stories that ships sank in Manila Bay during World War II. Maybe a battleship carried the tank. But we have yet to find the ship.”

Balilo said that the sunken ship should be salvaged because it could become a hazard to navigation.

He said the area where the vintage tank and cannon were found is about 10 to 15 meters deep.

“There is no certainty that passing vessels would not hit the submerged vessel, if there is indeed such a ship,” Balilo.

Balilo said there is also the possibility that the dredging vessel might hit vintage bombs lying on the seabed that could explode.

“We could send divers into the water, but even if we send them I doubt if they would be able to see under the murky Manila Bay water and it might cause problems for our divers if their feet get stuck in the silt,” Balilo added.

The PCG said Kwan Sing has been conducting dredging operations for the last three months.

Members of the Philippine Coast Guard look at the wreckage of a U.S. World War II tank that was recently recovered in the muddy waters of Manila Bay, in the Philippines on Wednesday Sept. 23, 2009. Authorities said the tank, which appeared to be an M4 Sherman tank minus its turret, was accidentally discovered underwater by a dredging company near the mouth of the Pasig River. (AP Photo/Aaron Favila)

A member of the Philippine Coast Guard inspects the wreckage of a U.S. World War II tank that was recently recovered in the muddy waters of Manila Bay, in the Philippines on Wednesday Sept. 23, 2009. Authorities said the tank, which appeared to be an M4 Sherman tank minus its turret, was accidentally discovered underwater by a dredging company near the mouth of the Pasig River. (AP Photo/Aaron Favila)

Filipino reporters look at the wreckage of a U.S. World War II tank, foreground, that was recently recovered in the muddy waters of Manila Bay, in the Philippines on Wednesday Sept. 23, 2009. Authorities said the tank, which appeared to be an M4 Sherman tank minus its turret, was accidentally discovered underwater by a dredging company near the mouth of the Pasig River. (AP Photo/Aaron Favila)

A member of the Philippine Coast Guard jumps off the wreckage of a U.S. World War II tank that was recently recovered in the muddy waters of Manila Bay, in the Philippines on Wednesday Sept. 23, 2009. Authorities said the tank, which appeared to be an M4 Sherman tank minus its turret, was accidentally discovered underwater by a dredging company near the mouth of the Pasig River. (AP Photo/Aaron Favila)

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…The Filipino, it seems, has lost his soul, his dignity, and his courage. We have come upon a phase of our history when ideals are only a veneer for greed and power, (in public and private affairs) when devotion to duty and dedication to a public trust are to be weighted at all times against private advantages and personal gain, and when loyalties can be traded. …Our government is in the iron grip of venality, its treasury is barren, its resources are wasted, its civil service is slothful and indifferent, its armed forces demoralized and its councils sterile., We are in crisis...

President Ferdinand Edralin Marcos

"Taking into account the disadvantages they have to fight against in terms of arms, equipment and military discipline, without artillery, short of ammunition, powder inferior, shells reloaded until they are defective, they are the bravest men I have ever seen...

"Until philosophers rule as kings or those who are now called kings and leading men genuinely and adequately philosophies, that is, until political power and philosophy entirely coincide, while the many natures who at present pursue either one exclusively are forcibly prevented from doing so, cities will have no rest from evils,... nor, I think, will the human race." - Plato

Maybe the ship carrying it was sunk by a kamikaze. That or maybe the ship crew jettisoned it upon hearing WW2 was over. Many equipment were simply left behind, destroyed, or jettisoned rather than be shipped back to the US.

I'd keep hulks such as this. Restorers will pay a fortune for them. Talking with such people here, original parts can get pretty expensive. One of them said they paid over $50k for a B-17 upper turret (just the top).

COnsidering there are very few relics of M4 Sherman tanks in the Philippines despite the numerous numbers that were here before, this tank hull should be preserved and let the AFP Museum or NHI take over the aspect of restoring it - as what are done to vehicles recovered/retrieved in Europe by museums.

And yes it is an M4-A1 as evidenced by the very circular front hull and absence of a major weld mold seen in composite hull shermans in the frontal side area of the hull. No coaxial machinegun - most likely removed prior or immediately after the vessel sunk.